Belk at Phipps Plaza in Buckhead to close

January 6, 2017 Atlanta - A pedestrian with an umbrella makes her way near Phipps Plaza in Buckhead on Friday, January 6, 2017. The Belk store at the posh Buckhead mall is expected to close in the summer. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

UPDATED: Phipps Plaza owner Simon said late Monday the company plans to add a hotel, office tower, major fitness complex and restaurants to the complex. To read the full story, click here.

ORIGINAL POST BELOW:

The Belk department store at Phipps Plaza is expected to close this summer as the owners of the Buckhead mall embark on some form of re-development at the site.

Details of the future redevelopment were not immediately known, but mall owner Simon has invested heavily in recent years with new restaurants, apartments and an AC Hotel on the mall campus. Simon has invited media to attend an announcement at Phipps Plaza on Tuesday that a representative said will have meaning for the Atlanta market, but a representative declined further comment.

The Belk store, which replaced the former Parisian anchor store in 2006, will close next summer, Belk spokesman Andy Izquierdo said. It’s unclear how many jobs might be affected. Izquierdo said employees were notified Monday of the store’s closure, but they will be able to transfer to other stores if they desire. Belk has about 20 metro Atlanta locations, Izquierdo said.

Belk currently does not have a plan to replace the Buckhead store, but Izquierdo said “we’re always open to looking for new locations that make sense.” The store employs 144 full-time and seasonal workers, he said.